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Holiday in Libya, Explorer

COUNTRY:
Libya
LOCATION:
Sahara Desert
HOLIDAY TYPE:
A small group adventure
DEPARTURES:
PRICE:
From £1525 (12 days) excluding flights. Domestic flights £75. We can arrange flights from the UK
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Holiday in Libya, Explorer

Holiday in Libya, Explorer

Small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.

How this holiday makes a difference

See Libya through the eyes of a local, as your Libyan tour leader gives you a first-hand insight into the exotic and historically rich tapestry that makes up this amazing country. Discovering archaeological sites, seeking out Greco-Roman antiquities, exploring ancient temples, wandering around vibrant medinas and journeying out to the desert and oasis towns - all experiences that impart to travellers an awareness of these valuable natural and historical gems and the importance of them being preserved and protected, so that they can be enjoyed and appreciated by future generations. The Libyans have a rich and enduring culture, which is unveiled on this tour. Equally important, your local tour leaders help you to understand the traditions of these proud people, ensuring you don’t commit any cultural ‘faux pas’.

To support tour programs in this part of the world this operator is training their tour leaders on a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. By only employing tour leaders born and bred in the regions they visit, they are supporting local economies. This operator prefers to give their patronage to small owner-managed hotels rather than those from international chains, as they feel these places offer quality and character and also directly benefit local people. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities.

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Holiday in Libya, Explorer

Reviewed 12 Jul 2009 by Mary Loosemore1 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Sleeping out under the Milky Way in the Tadrart Acacus.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Book your trip to Libya with another operator.

Generally:
* It's a day's drive from Tripoli to Ghadames. Be sure you think it's worth two days out of your trip if the itinerary includes Tripoli - Ghadames - Tripoli element, or look for an itinerary that travels onwards from Ghadames, eg to Ghat.
* If you like history and ruins as much as I do, then it is worth making the trip to Benghazi/Cyrene/Apollonia
* Ghat is lovely, and well worth the extra hour's drive through a landscape reminiscent of the American West
* Internal flights schedules are extremely "flexible", and you will need to be similarly flexible in how long you wait at the airport!
* Our (delayed) evening flight from Tripoli to Sebha left c. 10pm - not many itineraries make it clear that you'll be arriving in Sebha late at night.
* Remember that Friday is the day of rest, and not much will be open/active. Check your itinerary to see where you'll be and what you'll be doing on the Fridays, and plan in any souvenir shopping accordingly (if that's your thing)!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


To a very limited extent.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


As a destination Libya has a huge amount to offer, but sadly my experience of the country, and its people, history, culture and landscapes was very disappointing due to:

* The inappropriate and unprofessional behaviour of the local guide - by far and away the worst I've experienced in over 10 years of independent and group adventure travel
* The trip being overpriced / providing extremely poor value for money.

The tour operator is aware of my feedback and has offered a discount voucher of a future trip. I will not be taking up this offer.

Read the operator's response here:

Since receiving this client's feedback, our regional manager has visited Libya and reviewed the local operations, making some changes to staff and the overall program. One of our fundamental principles of our company is the use of Local Leaders – generally this works well and becomes a highlight of the trip, however on occasion cultural barriers or miscommunications remain, and these concerns have been addressed in training. As well as necessary quality control for future travellers, these efforts have resulted in better prices that we have been able to pass onto our clients for 2010. Although we appreciate this is of little consolation to this past traveller, we have certainly taken on board her feedback and done our best to rectify the concerns she raised following her trip.
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We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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